Prologue
I sat on the bed, poring through different magazines and such that Alice had left calmly on the bedside table. Look at pictures, read words, turn page. The basic mantra I had been practicing for the last hour. Up to the last magazine - page 17. Flip. And then my breathing hitched. Because a model stood there, not exuberantly pretty, but the dress she's wore brought back so many memories. It was small and cream colored. I suddenly felt overwhelming feelings of sadness and I cry out. Alice is at once at my side.
"Jasper? What's wrong?" I didn't answer, just breathed a bit harder and concentrated on the magazine, which has fallen from my hands and onto the floor. I can't speak.
"S…" My voice faltered. Alice was stricken, her normally happy face contorted in worry.
"Esme? I think there's something wrong with Jasper!" she said. Esme was in the room at once with Bella and Edward. All looked a little bit baffled. Carlisle came a moment later with Rose and Emmett. Esme looked extremely worried and blunt Rose asks the question on everyone's lips.
"Did he kill anyone?"
The room turned quiet as Alice shrugged.
"He won't talk, Rose. But his eyes are still golden, so I don't think so." Slowly, I said the name in my head. Sara. Sara. Edward picks up on this.
"He's saying a name. Sara. You know who that is, Alice?" She shook her head no. Suddenly, her face was near mine and she ran a hand over my cheek.
"Jazzy? Are you okay?" I wanted to say yes. I wanted to say I'm fine. But all I said is that one strangled word.
"Sara." My balance on the bed failed me then and I could feel myself tipping over the side. Emmett catches me and deposited me back on the bed.
"I wonder who Sara is?" he asked.
Bella voiced her opinion. "Someone from his past?"
Edward said "Maybe in his clan? The murderous one?"
Rose looked over at me and smirks. "Maybe a one-nighter he pulled."
Alice and Esme both shushed her. Emmett glanced at me. "Maybe she's one of those evil women like Maria. He probably was forced to do bad things with her, like in a creepy movie. And she probably watched him drink human blood and laughed. She was probably a self-centered, crazy monster who…" He never got to finish his sentence because I was on him already, clawing hard, screaming "Take it back! She wasn't that! Take…it…back!" Carlisle pulled me off Emmett and Emmett looked a little shocked.
"Just voicing my opinion, dude." Alice was clearly studying my display. And then she looked at me, topaz eyes on topaz.
"You loved her." It was as plain and simple as that. Of course I loved Sara. I made a strangled sound that sounded a bit like a 'yes.' Alice sat down beside me on the bed and Emmett and Rose got comfortable on two chairs. Edward sat on my other side with Bella on his lap. Carlisle and Esme sat a bit behind Alice. I could feel Esme's soft, cold hands raking through my hair.
"Honey, you want to tell us what happened?" she asked. I leaned back a bit so I could rest against her. Emmett's voice rose.
"Jasper? Was she pretty?" I let out a low, sardonic laugh with no humor in it, just chills. And then I answered.
"Pretty, Emmett? She was gorgeous. Even prettier than Rose, and I'm not just saying that. Blond too, though hers was a dirtier blond. And her eyes! Bright golden, like the sun, with the faintest hints of a previous blue-gray color. And her touch! Soft, like Esme's and chilling, so you wanted to hug her and never let go." Carlisle was staring at me. Everyone in the room was staring at me. Little Alice clutched my hand. Rose asked a question.
"Sorry if I'm being too personal and stuff, but did you ever kiss her or, you know, do, you know…" She trailed off. I closed my eyes and thought.
"Kissed her, many times. The 'you know' you are talking about – a few." I answered. This time it was Bella who spoke up.
"Jasper? Can you tell us the story?" My eyes shot open from when I had closed them.
"Of course. I must tell you. I must tell you the story, of me and Sara, my life, my love, oh those wonderful eyes, that wonderful smile…" I realized at once that Alice had stiffened.
"I still love you, Alice. If you don't want to hear the story, I won't tell it." I said. She took a deep, unnecessary breath and said
"Go ahead with it. I want to hear it." I nodded, my hair falling across my forehead. So with Esme's knees digging into my back, Alice's hand in mine, Edward's you-tell-them-I-won't stare, Bella's shaking, and the scrutinizing stares of Emmett, Rose, and Carlisle, I began my story.
"This is the story of the beauty…and her beast."